Car audio not keeping settings?

  • Thread starter Thread starter teapartysue
  • Start date Start date
T

teapartysue

Guest
I just bought a used car and cannot figure out the sound system. The system doesn't have a brand name so I can't look it up, and it's not factory. The main problem is every time I turn off the car, all the settings are lost...stations, equalizer settings, etc. When I start the car, I have to reset everything, every time. It seems like it would be a simple fix, but I can't figure it out and don't know anything about car audio. It's the kind that tells you the name of the song/artist (if that means anything) and a removable face plate.
 
Every car stereo made in the last 20 years uses 3 wires for power. One is the ground wire (the black wire), and two of them are positive connections. Of these two positives, one (the red one) is linked to the car's ignition, so it can receive the signal to turn itself on, and the other wire (the yellow one) is a constant source of power, from the battery (through the fusebox, of course) that is always on, so the radio can keep its presets stored.

It sounds like either one of two things. Both your red and yellow wires are connected to your ignition wire, OR, the red and yellow are connected backwards (red to constant, yellow to ignition)

If your mechanically/electrically inclined, you can pull the radio, and check where each wire is connected to. You'll need a multimeter to read whether each power wire is constant-on or switched-on. Or, bring your car to a car stereo shop. It's more than likely a simple fix, and any qualified installer should know immediately what the problem is, and have it fixed in minutes.
 
On the back of your head unit (stereo) you have two power leads. One is for main power that is supposed to go to the ignition. The other goes to the battery and is auxiliary power. Sounds to me like both of your power leads are going to the ignition, or they are reversed from their intended routing. When this happens, every time you turn your key off it kills the power to the memory portion of your head unit. Pull your head unit out and switch the two power wires and see if this takes care of your problem. I hope this helps.
 
your memory wire is not conected properly the wire should be yellow try to run that wire off a constant 12v source but chances are they hooked it up with the main power wire which is red so yeah to answer your question run the memory wire yellow to a constant power source like your battery but if you do not know what your doing get someone to do it for you you can burn your hold system up im talking the whole wiring system for your car
 
Back
Top